Dispensing Device

ABSTRACT

The invention is a device that dispenses contents from a squeezable chamber through a passage into an attached spoon. The spoon is hinged so that it folds back against the squeezable chamber for shipping and sales/shelf display, and pivots forward to engage the passage when in use. The spoon also has a flat “rest” which prevents the device from rolling, and keeps the spoon stable and elevated off a potentially germ-laden surface.

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention is in the area of devices that dispense contents from a squeezable chamber into an attached spoon.

2. DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

The prior art discloses various dispensing devices that comprise a spoon connected to a squeezable food or medicine container. U.S. Pat. No. 6,675,482 to Gilbert; U.S. Published Application 20090108025 by deVirag; U.S. Pat. No. 5,491,895 to Lee; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,830,222 to Read are examples of such devices. However, none of these prior art devices exhibit the features of the present invention—that is, a dispensing device with a flat “rest” which keeps the spoon stable and elevated off a surface, and a hinged spoon which folds back against the tube for shipping and sales display, but which serves to seal the food passage when in use.

U.S. Published Application 20080072432 by Teys discloses a hinge—but it is not on the spoon part but rather on the back of the food chamber.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,584,366 to Wedderburn discloses a hinged spoon; however, the hinge is constructed differently from the hinge in the invention, which involves a hinge in the food passage. Also, Wedderburn has nothing to do with squeezable feeding, and instead is simply a utensil like any other spoon.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,264,074 to Emilsson shows a flexible connector between the food tube and the spoon, but not a hinge that opens fully so the spoon can be tucked back against the food tube. In contrast, in the invention the hinged spoon can pivot more than 90 degrees from the straight “in-use” position—indeed, the hinged spoon can pivot almost 180 degrees, when it is tucked back against the squeezable chamber for shipping and sales/shelf display. In sum, Emilsson's physical structure is very different from that of the invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is a device that dispenses contents from a squeezable chamber through a passage into an attached spoon. The spoon is hinged so that it folds back against the squeezable chamber for shipping and sales/shelf display, and swings forward to engage the passage when in use. The spoon also has a flat “rest” which keeps the spoon stable and elevated off a potentially germ-laden surface.

The inventive device makes it much easier to give food, medicine, etc. to an infant or disabled person.

The hinged spoon feature saves shipping space, and shelf display space, by allowing the spoon to be folded back against the squeezable chamber until the product is ready for use. This also prevents damage or breakage that could occur if the spoon were fixed in an extended position.

Further, with the spoon tucked back out of the way until use, it is easier to apply an effective, hygienic seal to the squeezable container, thus preventing bacteria intrusion and spoilage of the contents.

The flat “rest” feature prevents the device from rolling away when placed on a surface, and also prevents contamination of the spoon and contents in use. Said another way, the user can set the device down if desired, without it rolling away or becoming dirty and germ-laden.

The inventive device is easy and low-cost to manufacture, because the hinge can be integrally molded of flexible plastic, in one piece with the spoon and the open end of the squeezable chamber.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of the dispensing device of the invention, showing the squeezable chamber, the hinged spoon folded back against the chamber for shipping and sales/shelf display, and the flat “rest”.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the dispensing device in the “in use” position, with the hinged spoon pivoted into place.

FIG. 3 is an end-on view of an embodiment of the dispensing device, showing the substantially flat “rest” that prevents rolling.

FIG. 4 is another side view of the dispensing device, with the passageway within the spoon portion shown in broken lines.

FIG. 5 is a detail perspective view of the hinge portion of the dispensing device, showing the end opening in the hinged spoon portion and the end opening in the squeezable chamber portion.

FIG. 6 is a top view of the dispensing device in the “in use” position, showing the outlet opening in the spoon from which the contents of the squeezable chamber flow.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following provides a list of the reference characters used in the drawings:

-   -   10. Dispensing device     -   11. Squeezable chamber     -   12. Measuring scale     -   13. Chamber end opening     -   14. Cap     -   15. Spoon     -   16. Hinge     -   17. Spoon end opening     -   18. Outer lip     -   19. Inner lip     -   20. Rest     -   21. Surface     -   22. Passageway     -   23. Outlet opening     -   24. Contents

FIG. 1 illustrates the dispensing device of the invention, with the hinged spoon folded back against the device. Dispensing device 10 comprises a squeezable chamber 11 which is adapted to contain liquid or semi-solid food, medicine, or other suitable substances. Squeezable chamber 11 is preferably constructed of clear, flexible plastic so that the contents can be seen, and so that the user can squeeze the contents from the chamber by applying hand pressure thereto. However, other suitable materials can be used including non-clear materials. A measuring scale 12 is located along the length of squeezable chamber 11, to enable the user to see and track how much of the contents have been dispensed, and how much remains in the chamber.

A substantially round chamber end opening 13 is located at one end of squeezable chamber 11, so that as the chamber is squeezed, the contents are forced out through chamber end opening 13. A removable cap 14 covers chamber end opening 13, to seal the contents against contamination when the device is not in use.

A spoon 15 is attached by a hinge 16 to squeezable chamber 11. Hinge 16 is preferably integrally molded with the open end of spoon 15 and the open end of squeezable chamber 11 so as to be of one piece; however, hinge 16 can also be constructed separately and attached to the open end of spoon 15 and the open end of squeezable chamber 11 using any suitable means. Hinge 16 can be constructed of flexible plastic, such that the flexible plastic material itself bends back and forth to provide the hinging action, or it can be constructed of other components that provide a suitable hinging action. Hinge 16 must be able to open sufficiently to allow spoon 15 to be tucked back against squeezable chamber 11 for shipping and sales/shelf display. As can be seen, hinged spoon 15 can pivot more than 90 degrees from the straight “in-use” position—indeed, hinged spoon 15 can pivot almost 180 degrees, when it is tucked back against squeezable chamber 11. It should be understood that the terms “folded back against” or “tucked back against” do not mean that spoon 15 must be folded back so far that it touches squeezable chamber 11. Rather, it is sufficient that spoon 15 is folded back so that it is substantially against squeezable chamber 11, as exemplified by FIG. 1.

Spoon 15 has a passageway within it, through which the contents of squeezable chamber 11 pass, as well as an outlet opening in its serving end, which will be further discussed below. A substantially round spoon end opening 17 is recessed inside the non-serving end of spoon 15, and is operatively connected to the passageway and outlet opening within spoon 15. Removable caps may also cover spoon end opening 17 and the outlet opening, to seal them against contamination when the device is not in use. When spoon 15 is pivoted about hinge 16 in the direction of the arrow, spoon end opening 17 mates with chamber end opening 13 to seal chamber end opening 13 and provide allow the contents of squeezable chamber 11 to be squeezed out of the outlet opening in the serving end of spoon 15.

FIG. 2 illustrates the dispensing device in the “in use” position, with the hinged spoon pivoted into place. Chamber end opening 13 and spoon end opening 17, although hidden in this view, are engaged together to form a continuous passageway from squeezable chamber 11 to the outlet opening in the serving end of spoon 15, so that contents 24 can be dispensed from squeezable chamber 11.

FIG. 3 is an end-on view of an embodiment of the dispensing device, wherein a substantially flat rest 20 is located on the bottom of squeezable chamber 11, which stabilizes dispensing device 10 and prevents rolling when the device is placed on surface 21. For clarity, spoon 15 and hinge 16 are not shown in this view. Additionally, as can be seen in FIG. 2, when dispensing device 10 is resting on surface 21, rest 20 elevates spoon 15 from surface 21 and prevents contamination of spoon 15 and its contents. Rest 20 can be located on the bottom of the open end of squeezable chamber 11, or on the bottom of the open (non-serving) end of spoon 15, or on both of these ends. Further, please note that the size, shape, and location of the rest can vary, as long as it prevents the device from rolling—i.e., it has a substantially flat overall profile which rests against an environmental surface—and elevates the spoon off a surface to prevent contamination.

FIG. 4 is a view of the dispensing device similar to FIG. 1, showing certain hidden elements of the device in broken lines. Specifically, spoon 15 contains a passageway 22 within, which connects spoon end opening 17 to an outlet opening 23 in the serving end of spoon 15. Thus when the device is in the in-use position shown in FIG. 2 and the user squeezes the contents out of squeezable chamber 11, the contents pass through passageway 22 and emerge at outlet opening 23. It should be noted that the outlet opening can be placed in different locations in the spoon. As one example, the outlet opening can be at the edge of the spoon closest to the squeezable chamber, rather than in the center of the spoon. Said another way, the passageway does not have to extend within the curved serving part of the spoon, but can instead just extend through the “neck” of the spoon. The device can also have multiple outlet openings in the spoon, operatively connected to the passageway.

FIG. 5 illustrates the hinge portion of the dispensing device in greater detail, including the end opening in the hinged spoon and the end opening in the squeezable chamber. For clarity, the rest of squeezable chamber 11 is not shown in this view. Spoon end opening 17 is recessed inside the non-serving end of spoon 15, in order to provide the necessary clearance when spoon 15 is pivoted onto squeezable chamber 11. Spoon end opening 17 also has a slightly larger diameter than chamber end opening 13, so that when the two openings are brought together by pivoting spoon 15 about hinge 16 in the direction of the arrows, chamber opening 13 nests inside spoon end opening 17. Chamber end opening has a flexible outer lip 18 around its outer circumference, which engages with a flexible inner lip 19 located around the inner circumference of spoon end opening 17 to secure the two openings together. Other suitable means to secure the two openings together may be employed.

FIG. 6 further illustrates the dispensing device in the “in use” position, including passageway 22 (in broken lines) and outlet opening 23 in spoon 15—through which and from which, respectively, the contents of squeezable chamber 11 are dispensed. The nested engagement of spoon opening 17 with chamber opening 13 is also shown in broken lines—this engagement enables the contents to flow from squeezable chamber 11 flow through chamber opening 13, spoon opening 17, passageway 22, and out through outlet opening 23.

To use the device, which is preferably delivered filled with contents but which can also be delivered empty and filled by the user, the user removes any seals against contamination and then pivots spoon 15 about hinge 16 in order to bring the non-serving end of spoon 15 and the open end of squeezable chamber 11 together. Once spoon 15 is locked in place against squeezable chamber 11, the user applies hand pressure or other means to squeeze the contents out of the chamber, through passageway 22 and out into the serving end of spoon 15 through outlet opening 23. The user can supply just enough pressure to fill spoon 15, wait for the recipient to consume what is in spoon 15, and then squeeze more contents into the spoon.

Alternatively, the user can fill the spoon continuously if the recipient is consuming the contents continuously.

While the above descriptions contain many specificities, these shall not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as exemplifications of embodiments thereof. Many other variations are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined not by the embodiments illustrated, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A dispensing device, comprising: (a) a squeezable chamber adapted to store contents, the squeezable chamber having two ends and a chamber opening located at one of said ends; (b) a spoon having a serving end and a non-serving end, and a spoon opening located at the non-serving end thereof; (c) a passageway extending from the spoon opening through the spoon to at least one outlet opening located at the serving end of the spoon; (d) hinge means for pivoting the spoon from a non-use position wherein the spoon is folded back substantially against the squeezable chamber, to an in-use position wherein the spoon opening engages with the chamber opening; whereby when a pressure is applied to the squeezable chamber with the spoon in the in-use position, the contents flow through the chamber opening, the spoon opening, and the passageway, and are dispensed through the at least one outlet opening.
 2. The dispensing device of claim 1, wherein the device also comprises a substantially flat rest adapted to lie against a surface and prevent movement of the device across the surface.
 3. The dispensing device of claim 2, wherein the rest is located at a bottom of the squeezable chamber.
 4. The dispensing device of claim 1, wherein the squeezable chamber has a measuring scale located thereon, to track how much of the contents have been dispensed.
 5. The dispensing device of claim 1, wherein one outlet opening is located at the center of the serving end of the spoon.
 6. The dispensing device of claim 1, wherein a sealing lip is located around an inner circumference of the spoon opening, to seal the engagement of the spoon opening with the chamber opening.
 7. The dispensing device of claim 1, wherein a sealing lip is located around an outer circumference of the chamber opening, to seal the engagement of the spoon opening with the chamber opening.
 8. The dispensing device of claim 1, wherein the pressure is hand pressure applied by the user.
 9. The dispensing device of claim 1, wherein a sealing cap is located over the chamber opening, to prevent contamination of the contents.
 10. The dispensing device of claim 1, wherein the chamber opening and the spoon opening are substantially round.
 11. A dispensing method, comprising the steps of: providing a dispensing device having: a squeezable chamber adapted to store contents, the squeezable chamber having two ends and a chamber opening located at one of said ends; a spoon having a serving end and a non-serving end, and a spoon opening located at the non-serving end thereof; a passageway extending from the spoon opening through the spoon to at least one outlet opening located at the serving end of the spoon; and hinge means for pivoting the spoon from a non-use position wherein the spoon is folded back substantially against the squeezable chamber, to an in-use position wherein the spoon opening engages with the chamber opening; pivoting the spoon from the non-use position to the in-use position; applying a pressure to the squeezable chamber; thereby forcing the contents through the chamber opening, the spoon opening, and the passageway, and dispensing the contents through the at least one outlet opening.
 12. The dispensing method of claim 11, wherein the device also comprises a substantially flat rest adapted to lie against a surface and prevent movement of the device across the surface.
 13. The dispensing method of claim 12, wherein the rest is located at a bottom of the squeezable chamber.
 14. The dispensing method of claim 11, wherein the squeezable chamber has a measuring scale located thereon, to track how much of the contents have been dispensed.
 15. The dispensing method of claim 11, wherein one outlet opening is located at the center of the serving end of the spoon.
 16. The dispensing method of claim 11, wherein a sealing lip is located around an inner circumference of the spoon opening, to seal the engagement of the spoon opening with the chamber opening.
 17. The dispensing method of claim 11, wherein a sealing lip is located around an outer circumference of the chamber opening, to seal the engagement of the spoon opening with the chamber opening.
 18. The dispensing method of claim 11, wherein the pressure is hand pressure applied by the user.
 19. The dispensing method of claim 11, wherein a sealing cap is located over the chamber opening, to prevent contamination of the contents.
 20. The dispensing method of claim 11, wherein the chamber opening and the spoon opening are substantially round. 